Wall-box for electric switches.



PATENTED JAN. 14, 1908. W. HOLLIS. WALL BOX FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. 1906. v

|NVENTOR RUDOLPH u HoLL/s,

n4; nonnls Paras; cm, WASHINGTON, o. c.

UNITED STATES RODOLPHUS W. HOLLIS, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

WALL-BOX FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14:, 1908.

Application filed June 18, 1906. Serial No. 322.219.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RoDoLPHUs W. HoL- LIs, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have made a certain new and useful l Vall-Box for Electric Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The object of this invention is primarily to provide a device of the class specified which will be adjustable so as to bring the switchfront flush with the wall-surface that is, through plastering of various thicknesses, and at the same time, one which will be easy and simple of installation and easily adaptable for installation under differing condi tions, the details of all of which wi ll be hereinafter fully specified.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings as follows:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, showing two laths in cross-section. Fig. 2 is a front view, showing the face and interior thereof. Fig. 3 is a section through the front on the line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the front end of the box, show ing the removable plate and housing therefor. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5*5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 55, Fig. 2, at the back corner of the box, showing the duct-admission slots.

In these figures, like reference characters are uniformly employed in the designation of corresponding elements of construction.

A is the box proper, which may be of any desired form, being provided at its back (preferably upper and lower) corners with slots extending transversely of said corners, that is, being cut into the top and bottom and the back end of the box, the greater length of slot being in the back end. These slots being for the introduction of the duct or conduit and it being desirable that, when the said duct enters the box horizontally, there should be a vertical adjustability therein to adapt it to wider or closer connections on the switch. The top and bottom of the switchbox are provided with respectively upwardly and downwardly projecting flanges a the ends a of which are turned backwardly as shown best in Fig. 4, whereby a housing is provided for the plate B. This plate B is a narrow strip of metal, preferably about the width of the flange and of a length which will fit with its ends against the backwardly turned ends of the flanges so as to be stable therein and is provided near its ends with countersunk holes for the reception of the heads of wood-screws, either shorter or longer as it is desired to set the box with the flanges close to or a distance from the laths 0, Figs. 1 and 5. Holes are punched through the flanges a coincident with these countersunk holes so that a screw-driver may be introduced for the purpose of manipulating said screws in setting the box, and in the center of the flanges a is drilled another hole which is screw-threaded to take the screw 61 which, as shown in Fig. 3, passes through a plate D, typical of the front-plate of a switch, lugs on said switch or any other means provided on the switch for securing it to the said box.

I The method of assembling this box for installation is as follows: The plate B is removed from the housing and screws of the requisite length are inserted in the countersunk holes and said plate B is returned. to the housing with the faces of the screw-heads in contact (or nearly in contact) with the inner sides of the corresponding flanges whereby said screws are splined in place and may not be withdrawn without first removing the plate B from its housing. By passing a screw-driver through the holes in the flanges alternately, the said screws may be then driven into the laths until the face of the box shall reach the desired position relatively to the face of the wall and by reason of said splining the said screws will hold said box stable in position without further attention. The switch may be then installed. As shown in Fig. 6, the ducts may be inserted at any angle from the horizontal to the vertical position, thus obviating the weakening of the box and the additional expense of cutting in more than two or four holes.

Owing to the lack of projections from the in gangs very compactly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a wall-box for electric switches, the

box, flanges on the front end thereof, a plate sides of this box, several of them may be set perforated and countersunk to receive screw heads and means for holding the countersunk sides of said plates against their respective flange.

2. In a wall-box for electric switches, the box, flanges on the front thereof, a plate perforated and countersunk to receive screw heads and means for holding the countersunk sides of said plates against their respective flange, consisting of lips formed upon said flanges by turning backwardly and inwardly their eX- tended ends.

3. In a wall-box for electric switches, the

box, flanges on the front end thereof, a plate 1 perforated and countersunk to receive screw heads and means for holding the countersunk sides of said plates against their respective flange, said flanges being perforated with holes smaller than and in line with each of the countersunk perforations in said plate.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RODOLPHUS W. HOLLIS.

Witnesses:

A. P. Woon, S. M. W001). 

